The Saint Lucia men’s national team is back in Concacaf Nations League (CNL) this Friday, with a chance to take another step towards Gold Cup qualification for the first time ever.
Saint Lucia leads Group B in League B of the 2024-25 CNL, and must beat Grenada and Curaçao in the coming days to seal promotion to League A.
Saint Lucia meets Grenada, followed by Saint Martin against Curaçao, as Group B play takes place on Friday at the Ergilio Hato Stadium in Willemstad, Curaçao.
Saint Lucia is atop the group with nine points, but Curaçao lurks in second place with seven points. Saint Lucia, hosts for the October window, are coming off a win and a loss, and may need at least a win and a draw to avoid remaining in League B for next year.
In the October window, the Piton Boyz were hit with injuries to key players. Four will return this November window. The technical team, under the leadership of head coach Stern John, has given two players first-time calls, and two others have made their way back into the national setup.
The main area of reinforcement has been the midfield, where experienced USA-based central midfielder Peter Pearson returns for the first time since June. The 28-year-old scored in World Cup Qualifying as a sub in a 1-1 draw with Aruba.
Djal Augustin finally returns to national colours as well. An elegant attacking midfielder whose parents have both played national football, he is now with FK Dvur Kralove in the Czech Republic, after going to school in the USA.
In 2023, Eymani Butcher became the youngest player ever to take the field for Saint Lucia, just 15 years old at the time. Weeks away from his 17th birthday, the 17-year-old the La Clery midfielder is back in the squad.
That trio is preferred to Shaquan Nelson, Sherman Augustin, and Melvin Aurelien, who featured in the previous windows. Also left out is striker Yanic Noel, who made his debut at home in October, and Sebastien Ribot, an unused sub in the two home games in October.
Up front, meanwhile, Lincoln City winger Reeco Hackett-Fairchild is back from injury. So too is Arkell Jude-Boyd, who had an electric goal-scoring debut in September. Long-term target Shiloh Remy, from Dagenham & Redbridge in England, is included. Desruisseaux goalkeeper GlendanFerdinand replaces Darren Donaie, who is settling into a new role in Jamaica.
Defenders Chris Forino, and Janoi Donacien continue their recuperation from injury. Both played big roles in September, then missed the October games with injury concerns.
Curaçao, the hosts for the November matches, are coming off a win and a draw and seek to rally behind their home crowd in the battle for the top spot. Saint Lucia beat both Grenada and Curaçao in September, and will be scheming on a return to form.
At the conclusion of the Group Stage, the CNL League B group winners and the two best runners-up will qualify for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup and Gold Cup Prelims, respectively.
FULL SQUAD:
Goalkeepers:
Vino Barclett – Cavalier (JAM)
Lamar Joseph-Johnson – Enfield FC (ENG)
Glendan Ferdinand – Desruisseaux (LCA)
Defenders:
Melvin Doxilly – Portmore (JAM)
Terell Thomas – Carlisle (ENG)
Alvinus Myers – Portmore FC (JAM)
Shanoi Evans – Chapleton Maroons (JAM)
Joshua Solomon-Davies – Atherton Collieries (ENG)
Kurt Frederick – Grenades FC (ANT)
Midfielders:
Cheye Alexander – Gillingham (ENG)
Ridel Stanislas – Grenades FC (ANT)
Leaus Henville – Mabouya Valley (LCA)
Lester Joseph – Grenades FC (ANT)
Bayan Aman – Hendon FC (ENG)
Peter Pearson – Des Moines Menace (USA)
Eymani Butcher – La Clery (LCA)
Djal Augustin – FK Dvur Kralove (CZE)
Forwards:
Caniggia Elva – Rot-Weiß Erfurt (GER)
Ryan Charles – Bishop’s Stortford (ENG)
Dominic Poleon – Ebbsfleet (ENG)
Donavan Jn Baptiste – Canaries (LCA)
Arkell Jude Boyd – Cheltenham (ENG)
Reeco Hackett Fairchild – Lincoln FC (ENG)
Shiloh Remy – Dagenham & Redbridge (ENG)
Photo Credit: McAllister Hunt
